Republicans unwilling to vote for Donald Trump prepared to split tickets

[Geee]

Washingrton Times:

Democrats are eager to tie the brash and polarizing Donald Trump to GOP candidates in key U.S. Senate races, but, at least so far, he’s avoided being the apocalyptic wipeout factor many in the GOP had feared.

While voters say they’re more likely to vote against candidates who back Mr. Trump, it’s not a dominant factor, and there are signs voters are prepared to split tickets to support Republicans down the ballot, even if they don’t plan to back Mr. Trump at the top, according to polling taken in the month since he sewed up the party’s presidential nomination.

The lack of early movement in key races isn’t dissuading Democratic strategists who are confident Mr. Trump will tarnish enough GOP candidates to put control of the Senate in play.

Most recently, Democrats are trying to tie Republicans to Mr. Trump’s comments that a judge overseeing a fraud case against his Trump University has a conflict of interest because of the Indiana-born judge’s Mexican heritage.

“Either Republican Senate candidates don’t understand the gravity of Trump’s attacks, or they are too scared to stand up to them,” said Sam Lau, a spokesman for Senate Democrats’ campaign arm.